Albania’s government has unveiled its new “Rilindja 2.0” National Housing Program, aiming to expand access to affordable housing and open a new chapter in the country’s housing policies.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said that 30,904 families have so far benefited from government housing programs, while announcing a new initiative targeting young couples.

Under the plan, 4,000 young couples will receive support to obtain a home. The package includes 2,000 zero-interest loans for apartments valued at up to €60,000, while another 2,000 loans will carry an interest rate of 3% for properties above that threshold.

“These policies are designed to help young couples start their lives with a key in their hands,” Rama said, stressing that the program was based on research into housing policies in Europe and beyond.

The government’s new framework includes six housing programs, covering social rental housing, newly built or market-purchased homes, the conversion of confiscated properties, low-cost housing, subsidized mortgages and the improvement of existing homes for vulnerable groups.

A separate program will target informal settlements and seek to adapt selected properties into social housing. Other measures include temporary accommodation for people affected by natural disasters and specially adapted housing for families or individuals with disabilities.

The reform is also expected to bring changes to the institutional structure of housing policy. Rama said the National Territorial Planning Agency, the Territorial Development Agency, the National Housing Entity and municipalities will operate as a more integrated system.

During the presentation, Rama also raised concerns over the situation in Tirana, where Mayor Erion Veliaj remains in pretrial detention. He described the current administration of the capital without its mayor as an unprecedented situation in Europe and argued that it has created significant consequences for the city.

The government says the new housing strategy is intended to provide broader access to affordable housing, particularly for young families and vulnerable groups.